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Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

Departments of Aging and Veterans Services announce War Era Story Project

Follow-up to popular Depression era story project will explore life lessons learned during period of global conflict and national recovery

COLUMBUS - Ohio Department of Aging Director Bonnie Kantor-Burman and Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Thomas N. Moe today announced the launch of the departments' joint War Era Story Project. The effort will pick up where the Department of Aging's award-winning 2009 Great Depression Story Project left off by collecting Ohioans' memories from the start of World War II through the 1940s. The agencies are seeking stories by the people who lived them - from veterans of World War II, to the men, women and children who held steady on the home front.

"We want to continue to help our elders tell their personal tales of sacrifice, perseverance and recovery during some of the most challenging and influential times in our nation's history," said Bonnie Kantor-Burman, director of the Department of Aging. "Whether they fought in the war, raised a family or grew up during the tumultuous 1940s here at home, our elders can teach us many things about thriving during adversity."

"The Second World War forever changed America; it challenged the nation and the world in ways that today's young people may never experience," added Col. Moe. "It remains critical that we learn from the generations that preceded us so that their lessons can help guide us into a prosperous future."

Stories should focus on the story-tellers' experiences during the war and the years that followed, and should be 500 to 1,000 words long. You may include photographs, but please note we cannot return them. Send stories with the author's name, location and current age to:

You also may e-mail stories to WarEraStories@age.ohio.gov. For the first time, the department also is accepting video stories via YouTube. Videos should be no more than 10 minutes long. Upload the video to your personal YouTube account (available for free at YouTube.com), then e-mail the link to the address above or share it on the department's page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/OhioDeptOfAging). Stories should be received by July 31, 2012.

Excerpts from the stories received will be posted to the Department of Aging's website around Veteran's Day in November. Full stories will be featured in the department's free e-newsletter, Boomerang. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov/news/boomerang/ to read and subscribe.

The Great Depression Story Project, conducted in 2009, gained national media attention and was named a "Notable Government Document" by Library Journal. It included more than 1,000 excerpts from over 300 submissions and has been viewed more than 38,000 times on the Department of Aging's website.

About ODA - The Ohio Department of Aging works to ensure that our elders are respected as vital members of society who continue to grow, thrive and contribute. We work with state agencies and community partners, including area agencies on aging, to help integrate aging needs into local plans and ensure that aging Ohioans have access to a wide array of high-quality services and supports that are person-centered in policy and practice. Our programs include the PASSPORT Medicaid waiver, caregiver support, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.